RCA Student Policies & Support for International Students
STUDENT CODES OF PRACTICE As a member of the RCA community, all students should familiarise themselves with the policies and regulations that RCA Students are bound to, and what responsibilities the College has to students. The procedures, regulations and policies for students at the RCA can be found here:
RCA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TEAM The RCA offers in-house support and advice for International Students:
INTRANET PAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
Support/Advice Organisations for International Students
UKCISA - UK Council for International Students Affairs
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is the UK’s national advisory body supporting international students and those who work with them. They provide advice, guidance and information about all aspects of the international student experience, from immigration and fees to mental health, culture shock and orientation.
- Advice Telephone: Student advice line on +4420 7788 9214 which is open at the following times: Monday to Friday (except for public holidays): 13:00 to 16:00 (UK time)
- Website
Immigration & Asylum Support Organisations in the UK
Migrants Organise
Migrants Organise provides a platform for refugees and migrants to organise for power, dignity and justice to enable meaningful inclusion and integration. They combine advice and support for individuals affected by the hostile environment immigration policies with community organising, advocacy, research and campaigning to help dismantle structural racism.
- Telephone: 020 8964 4815
- Email
- Website
- Address: 2 Thorpe Close, London, W10 5XL, United Kingdom
General Immigration or Asylum Advice
Law Centres Network
Law Centres are not-for-profit and provide free legal advice and representation to local residents on a wide range of issues. Many local Law Centres provide free immigration advice, although services vary from centre to centre.
- Telephone (general enquiries no advice): 020 3637 1330
- Email
- Website
- Address: Law Centres Network, Floor 1, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA
Click on your nearest Law Centre to find out if they provide immigration advice and to find out their contact details and opening hours.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice Bureaus offer advice to local residents on a range of practical and legal matters. Those offering immigration advice can help with the following:
- General immigration queries
- Visa applications, including advice on filling in forms
- Home Office delays
- Getting replacement immigration documents
- Citizenship queries.
Some Citizens Advice Bureaus have a dedicated immigration specialist, and can assist with more complex cases. To find out if your local Citizens Advice Bureau provides immigration advice, you should contact them directly.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
JCWI is an independent national charity, campaigning for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and policy. They provide free immigration advice to undocumented migrants on all immigration, asylum and nationality law matters.
- Telephone: 020 7251 8708
- Advice line: 020 7553 7470 (between 10.00am and 1.00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays)
- Email
- Website
- Address: 115 Old Street, London EC1V 9RT
Community Legal Centre (CLC)
CLC is a non-profit organisation providing legal and other services for Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) in the community. They have a dedicated legal and administrative team to assist refugees and asylum seekers, migrants, unemployed and underprivileged people in the community. They provide legal advice, representation, information, casework, advocacy and counselling services.
- Telephone (for general enquiries and appointments): 020 86922277
- Email
- Website
- Address: Community Legal Centre (CLC), 9 Deptford Church Street, London, SE8 4RX
Hackney Migrant Centre
Hackney Migrant Centre is a charity providing advice and assistance to migrants on immigration, welfare and health issues. They hold a free weekly drop-in advice surgery every Wednesday where people can access advice on their immigration status, as well as issues relating to homelessness and destitution.
To book an appointment call 07961 014182 between 10:00am and 11:30am, on Mondays only. The appointment for a face-to-face assessment will be in Hackney on Wednesday of the same week. Please note that their phone lines are usually very busy and remain open only until all appointments are booked for that week. Please note that they are only able to see approximately fifteen people per week at the drop-in service on a first come, first served basis. Please arrive early in order to avoid disappointment.
Advice for EU Migrants
The Aire Centre (Advice on indivudal rights in Europe)
The AIRE Centre is a specialist legal charity using European Law to protect fundamental rights. They run a free advice line between 10.30am and 6.00pm, every Monday- Friday. They advise on EEA national’s free movement rights, including applications under the Settled Status Scheme.
- Advice line: 0207 831 4276
- Email
- Website
- Address: The AIRE Centre, 505 Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5DR
The 3Million
the3million is the largest grassroots organisation for EU citizens* in the UK, formed after the 2016 referendum to protect the rights of people who have made the UK their home. They are an inclusive and non-partisan organisation for and of immigrants. Instead of letting others represent us, they speak on their own behalf, representing the interests of all EU citizens, irrespective of ability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. Their values are based on human rights, anti-racism, liberal democracy and respect for the rules of law. They have established ourselves as the main organisation representing the interest of EU citizens in the UK, with access to UK and EU institutions. They are viewed as a trusted advisor by NGOs and other stakeholders and are active members of several alliances and networks. *Please note they use EU citizens as a shorthand for citizens of one of the member states of the European Union or the European Economic Area or Switzerland and their non-EU family members.
Advice for Women
Rights of Women
Rights of Women is a legal charity assisting vulnerable women establish and access their legal rights. They run a free advice line for women seeking advice on immigration and asylum law. The line is open between 10.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Advice line: 0207 490 7689
- Website
- Address: Rights of Women, 52 – 54 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT
Advice for Children or for those Assisting Children
Coram Children's Legal Centre
CORAM is a legal charity aimed at promoting and upholding children’s human rights. Their Migrant Children’s Project provides free advice on issues affecting children subject to immigration control, through email and their outreach program. Their Children’s Pro Bono Service provides free legal advice for children entitled to British Citizenship.
Just for Kids Law
Just for Kids Law is a legal and campaigning charity assisting children with a wide range of issues. They offer free immigration advice to children.
- Telephone: 0203 174 2279
- Email
- Website
- Address: Just For Kids Law, Unit 4D, Leroy House, London N1 3QP
Advice for LGBTQ+ People
Rainbow Migrant
A charity providing support to LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system. They provide free advice to asylum seekers and migrants at meetings in London and Birmingham – details of these meetings are available on their website.
- Telephone: 020 7922 7811
- Email
- Website
- Address: 7 – 14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR
Advice for Victims of People Trafficking
Kalayaan
A charity providing advice and support services for domestic migrant workers in the UK. Support services include retrieving passports from employers, providing English language courses and providing practical emergency assistance to clients who have recently left abusive employers. You can call them to make an appointment for advice.
- Telephone: 0207 243 2942
- Email
- Website
- Address: Kalayaan, St Francis of Assisi Community Centre, 13 Hippodrome Place, London W11 4SF
Advice for Victims of Torture or Traume Who Are Seeking Therapeutic Help
The Helen Bamber Foundation
A human rights charity based in London with a specialist team of therapists, doctors and legal experts who hold an international reputation for providing therapeutic care, medical consultation, legal protection and practical support to survivors of human rights violations. Their multidisciplinary team including GPS, psychotherapists, psychologists and psychiatrists provide expert care for migrants who have experienced torture, human trafficking and other forms of ill treatment. They also offer a medico-legal report service as expert evidence in asylum claims.
- Telephone (general enquiries): 0203 058 2020
- Email
- Website
- Address: Helen Bamber Foundation, Bruges Place, 15 – 20 Baynes Street, London NW1 0TF
The Helen Bamber Foundation only accepts clients through their formal referral process, which you can find details of here. Self-referrals are accepted.
Freedom From Torture
Freedom from Torture provide specialist psychological therapy to help asylum seekers and refugees who have survived torture in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow. They also provide medico-legal reports in support of asylum claims.
Freedom from Torture accepts self-referrals through their website, accessible here. Their website provides contact details for their centres outside of London.
Assistance with Housing or Destitution Support
Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)
ASAP is a small national charity which aims to reduce destitution amongst asylum seekers by protecting their legal rights to food and shelter. ASAP provides free legal representation and advice to the asylum seekers appealing against UKBA’s decision to refuse or withdraw their asylum support. Every year, they assist about 600 asylum seekers at the First-Tier Tribunal (Asylum Support).
- Telephone: 020 3716 0284
- Website
- Address: ASAP, Ground Floor Anchorage House, 2 Clove Crescent, East India Dock, London E14 2BE
ASAP accepts self-referrals; you can find more details about this on their website.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross offer assistance with urgent needs of refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants, including:
- food parcels and vouchers
- small amounts of cash
- clothes
- toiletries
- blankets
- baby items
- travek vouchers
You can search for your local refugee support service here or see the following contact details:
- Telephone: 0344 871 11 11
- Email
- Website
- Address: 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL
Southall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters, a charity dedicated to fighting and advocating for women’s human rights in the UK, have a dedicated fund for assisting women facing gender based violence with immigration issues who have no recourse to public funds. The fund is designed to enable women and their children to enter a refuge or safe accommodation to escape domestic violence. If you meet the criteria for Southall Black Sister’s No Recourse fund, you can request an application pack on their website.
Project 17
Project 17 is a charity who works to end destitution among migrant children, working in particular with families to improve their access to local authority housing. They provide an advice service for migrants facing homelessness and extreme poverty because they are unable to work or claim welfare benefits.
- Telephone:07963 509 044
- Email
- Website
- Address: Project 17, St Joseph’s Hospice, Mare Street, London E8 4SA
Advice Immigration Detention
If you are currently being held in immigration detention, we suggest you get help from a legal representative to apply for bail. Bail is a process where you are released from detention by a court, as long as you meet certain conditions. Legal aid is available for bail applications, depending on your financial situation. However, each detention centre has particular law firms it works with, so you will need to ask staff in the detention centre which law firms you can use. Every detention centre and short-term holding facility in the UK also has a visitor group run by volunteers who may be able to provide initial advice and support. You can also contact BID.
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
Bail for Immigration Detainees is a registered charity that works with asylum seekers and migrants to secure their release from detention. BID was set up in 1998. Their three offices in London, Oxford and Portsmouth between them work with detainees in all removal centres in the UK, and with many immigration detainees held in prison at the end of their sentence. BID can help you and support you through a bail application (see website for details of how to get support from BID in making your bail application).
- Advice line: 020 7456 9750 (call between 10.00am to 12.00pm, Monday to Thursday – outside of these times leave a message)
- Email
- Website
- Address: Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), 1b Finsbury Park Road, London N4 2LA
Civil Liberties / Rights in the UK
Liberty UK
Liberty is ordinary people standing up to power. For more than 88 years they’ve championed anyone whose rights come under threat, from Gypsy and Traveller communities to Government whistle-blowers. Liberty was founded in 1934 in response to brutal police attempts to stop protests during the Hunger Marches and the ‘general and alarming tendency to encroach on the liberty of the citizen’. Since then they’ve become the UK’s largest civil liberties organisation, with more than 15,000 members and supporters. They campaign for everyone in the UK to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect. They are independent. Their principles are guided by evidence, expertise and the human impact. They’re not swayed by political agenda, profit or popular opinion. From fighting against compulsory ID cards to campaigning for trans equality – Liberty stands on the side of freedom and justice. They’re not afraid to speak uncomfortable truths and they challenge intolerance, discrimination and the abuse of power wherever they find it. Liberty provided a wealth of interesting resources on protest rights and other civil liberties.
Translation Services for Documents
RCA does not provide a translation service for official documents such as medical reports. If you need to provide official documentation to the College, the documents will need to be in English. If the original document is written in a different language, a professional translation will be required. If the organisation providing the document is not able to create an official translated version of the document, a professional translation service will be required. Here are some examples of available UK-based translation services: